Buoyancy vest for commercial diving



May 19, 1970 J. J. CARROLL ET AL V BUOYANCY VEST FOR COMMERCIAL DIVING 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1968 JOSEPH J. CARROLL JOHN B. GALLETTLJR.

INVENTORS BY M FIGURE 1 ATTORNEY J. J. CARROLL ETAL 3,512,196.

BUOYANCY VEST FOR COMMERCIAL DIVING May 19, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledDec. '26, 1968 1 '1 IIIIIIIIIIIII'IIIJ'II FIGURE 2A FIGURE 3 FIGURE 7FIGURE 6 JOSEPH J. CARROLL JOHN B. GALLETTI INVENIOR.

ATTORNEY May 19, 1970 J. J. CARROLL ET AL 3,512,196 I BUOYANCY VEST FORCOMMERCIAL DIVING 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26, 1968 FIGURE 5 I 25JOSEPH J. CARROLL 2 JOHN B. GALLETT|,JR.

FIGURE 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,512,196 BUOYANCY VEST FORCOMMERCIAL DIVING Joseph J. Carroll and John B. Galletti, Jr., Pasadena,

Tex., assignors to J & J Marine Diving Company, Pasadena, Tex., acorporation of Texas Filed Dec. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 786,878 Int. Cl. B63c11/14, 9/08 US. Cl. 9-342 16 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A garmentto be worn by commercial divers as a substitute for a full diving suit.The vest is essentially a thin bag of water impervious material, havinga length twice that of a mans torso and substantially equal to it inwidth. A pair of centrally located, registering openings permit thediver to pull the vest over his head so that half of it drapes over hischest and abdomen while the other half lies against his back. An elasticcollar bonded to the bag area adjacent the lower opening extendstransversely of the bag and fits snugly around the divers neck to form aseal therewith.

The bag material adjacent and surrounding the upper opening in the bagwall is adapted by various means to fit any of the commerciallyavailable divers helmets, e.g., by a thickened reinforcing strip piercedwith a series of holes to fit the studs of the breastplate whichsupports the type of helmet used with a full diving suit, or atermination fitting as a seal between the locking ring and sidewall ofthe type helmet supported on the divers head.

The vest or bag is preferably provided with straps, and connecting eyesand hooks, the straps being secured to the lower edges of the bag sothat one set .may be run under the divers crotch and fastened togetherto hold both vest and helmet against the buoyant force of the water thediver is working in. The crotch straps thus replace longer crotch strapsused with a helmet and a wet suit, and minimize the possibility ofentanglement in the straps. Girth straps and connectors may also beprovided to keep the vest from flapping.

With this construction, the helmet is always flow connected to the bag,in the space between the upper bag opening and the neck collar bonded tothe lower opening. No supply or exhaust connections need be made to thevest, as the diver controls the extent of inflation of his vest byadjusting the flow valves of his helmet, principally the exhaust valve.If he leaves the exhaust valve adjustment at a wide open setting, thevest remains uninflated, the condition appropriate for working onbottom. When the diver wishes to ascend, he closes his helmet exhaustvalve to reduce the rate of exhaust, causing the bag to inflate. Byproper adjustment of such valve the diver may control his buoyancy torise to the surface or to remain suspended at any desired intermediatedepth between bottom and surface.

The present invention lies in the field of clothing and equipment wornby commercial divers, and more specifically in a vest adapted forconnectionto a divers helmet so that some of the breathing gas from thehelmet can pass into the vest and inflate it. By proper adjustment ofthe valves of the helmet, particularly the exhaust valve, the pressurein the vest can be adjusted to any value between a condition of completedeflation to a condition of flotation which will bring the diver to thesurface.

Prior to the prior invention, commercial divers had One of three choicesof clothing in addition to a helmet: (1) a full diving suit, sometimescalled a dry suit, (2) a wet suit =which clings tightly to the body andhas no connection to a helmet, and (3) ordinary swimming or workclothes, again having no connection to the helmet.

3,512,196 Patented May 19, 1970 A full diving suit essentially surroundsall of a divers body including his feet and all of his upper appendagesexcept his hands, head and neck. The arm sleeves of the suit terminateat the wrists in sealed wristlets, while the body of the suitsurrounding the upper torso terminates in a reinforced lip surrounding alarge opening which fits over the shoulders or chest. The reinforced lipis adapted for sealing connection to the divers helmet, so that theentire suit becomes a bag depending from the helmet and flow connectedto it. Most of the time the diver keeps his dry suit empty and thus usesit mostly as a heat (cold) barrier, but by proper adjustment of hishelmet valves he can inflate the suit to control his buoyancy.

Commercially available full diving suits have only a single wall,typically of relatively thick fabric and rubber. While they have wonwidespread acceptance for use under certain operating conditions, inother circumstances they have several disadvantages. Probably the worstdisadvantage is the discomfort experienced by the diver inside the suit.Since most of the time there is no gas or liquid circulating over hisbody, his perspiration accumulates inside the rubber bag, and thiscondition becomes aggravated as the temperature of the surrounding fluidincreases. Any fluid that does flow over his body is limited to some ofhis breathing gas, flowing between his body and the single wall of thedry suit, as the water in which he is working is completely excluded.The diver cannot take advantage of the fact if the temperature of thewater happens to be a comfortable temperature. Such suits are alsosomewhat bulky and awkward to Work in.

There is an added disadvantage when the full suit is inflated,particularly by an inexperienced diver. There is a danger that the divermay get into an inverted, feet-up position. If this should happen, thediver may not be able to right himself immediately, because the legs andfeet of his suit are inflated as much as the arms and chest, and becausethe heavy helmet tends to sink to a natural bottommost position. Thereis also a psychological problem in that the diver may feel himselftrapped, even in the proper heads-up position, as he wants to be able toshed all excess gear and equipment rapidly in an emergency, e.g., lossof air supply. A full diving suit cannot be divested quickly, and thisfact, known to the diver, may cause him some anxiety. When an emergencydoes occur, the pressure of time to get out of the suit may even causethe diver to panic.

The main object of the present invention is to supply a divers garmentwhich serves as a replacement for a full diving suit but lacks the manydisadvantages of the full suit. A second object is to supply such agarment which is attachable to a divers helmet in sealing relationshiptherewith so that the breathing mixture flowing through the helmet canpass into the garment and inflate it. A third object is to provide aninflatable buoyancy vest, securable to a divers helmet in common gasflow relationship therewith, which permits the water in which the diveris working to flow over and cool his entire body. A fourth object is toprovide such a buoyancy vest which can be inflated toany pressure withina range from complete deflation to a pressure which will float the diveron the surface or at any intermediate level. A fifth object is toprovide a buoyancy vest which, when inflated, keeps the diver in aheads-up position. A sixth object is to provide such a vest which can besecured about the divers body and to his helmet so that neither membercan be accidentally floated free of the divers body, and yet both vestand helmet can be rapidly removed in an emergency.

These and other objects are achieved according to the present inventionby fashioning a vest in the form of a thin and elongated bag adapted tobe draped over a divers chest and back and sealably securable to hishelmet and neck. Preferably the bag consists essentially of a pair ofsubstantiaiiy identical, rectangular panels of a tough, Water-imperviousmaterial such as a rubbery plastic like PVC reinforced with nylonfilaments, plus an elastic collar or sleeve for the divers neck. Gnerectangular panel is laid on top of the other, and their coincidingedges are bonded together to prevent the escape of any gas. A centrallylocated opening is formed in each panel, such openings beingsubstantially coaxial and opposed to one another. I

The elastic collar is sealingly bonded to the inner panel to extendthrough the central opening therein, and is sized so that a diver canpull the collar over his head and bring it to rest around his neck toform a gas-tight seal. The outer panel is terminated adjacent itscentral opening with a shape adapting it for connection to a helmet(also known as a hard hat or pot), the termination used varying somewhatwith the type of helmet used. In the type of helmet using a breastplate,the outer panel is preferably provided with a reinforced lip contouredto fit the breastplate, and such lip is pierced with a set of spacedholes to accommodate a series of connecting members to join it to thebreastplate. In helmets employing a metal neck ring secured to thebottom of the helmet, the outer panel is terminated so that it fits inothe neck ring and is clamped therein to make a sealed connection.

In all forms of the invention there is an annular gap between the collarsurrounding the divers neck and the connection of the outer panel of thevest to the lower part of the divers helmet. This gap establishes fluidcommunication between helmet and vest, but such communication can eitherbe ignored or exploited, at the will of the diver. If he leaves theexhaust valve of his helmet wide open, the vest will stay deflated, thecondition usually employed when working on bottom. If the diver wishesto surface without assistance from a surface vessel, he may do so bypartially closing his exhaust valve to inflate his bag and control hisrate of ascent and also to make stops while suspended at intermediatedepths, as required for his safety. (It may sometimes be necessary ordesirable to pass to the surface by means of a hand line any weights hemay have been carrying for various purposes, e.g., to hold his footingin a strong underwater tide.) The diver can use the vest to suspendhimself at any desired distance between bottom and surface, aflexibility particularly useful when working on underwater structuresbuilt on a sea floor, e.g., pipe risers, bridges and drilling rigs.

Since there is some danger under all conditions that a divers helmet maybe floated off his head, it is common practice t secure the helmet tothe divers body by one rneans or the other. With a full diving suit, thesuit itself holds the helmet down and cannot in itself be pulled loose.With wet suits and when no suit is worn, the helmet is provided withfront and rear eyelets into which are snapped the ends of straps passingthrough the divers crotch. Such long straps can be eliminated in thepresent invention, as the crotch strap need extend only between thelower edges of the vest.

When the diver has inserted his head through the neck seal and thelarger opening of the outer panel, the pair of joined panels hang overboth his chest-abdomen and his back, somewhat in the manner of a shortponcho, and the lower edges hang down approximately the same distancefrom his shoulders, *both terminating at about his waist or hips. Theconsequently short crotch strap extending between such edges eliminatesa source of potential entanglements present in the long straps of theprior art.

When such straps are used, the inner and outer panels are preferablystifi'ened by securing them together over an area additional to theirperipheral junction, e.g., along a line substantially midway between thelong edges of the panels, as illustrated. Girth straps may also beprovided at the lower edges of the vest, to keep the ends of thevestkfrom flapping and perhaps interfering with the divers wor Theinvention will probably be more quickly comprehended by referring to theattached drawing depicting several physical embodiments of theinventionfor the purpose of illustration only. In such drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a vest laid out on aflat surface with the outer panel uppermost, this particular embodimenthaving a termination on the outer panel adapted for connection to ahelmet including a breastplate,

FIG. 2. is a cross section of the same vest, as indicated by thesectioning plane and arrows marked 2-2 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 2A is a cross section similar to FIG. 2 showing a modified form ofthe bag constituting the principal member of the vests of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a centrai cross section of the same vest, as indicated by thesectioning plane and arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the vestof FIGS. l3 as worn by a diver,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a diver wearing an other type helmet anda matching vest of the present invention,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section showing the connection between the helmetand vest of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section, similar to that of FIG. 6, showinganother modified form of the invention adapted to fit another type ofdivefs helmet.

The preferred form of vest shown in FIGS. 1-4 consists basically of thebag 10, closed except for the pair of registering and opposed headopenings 12 and 14, and a stretchable collar 16. Opening 12 is somewhatsmaller than opening 14, and is substantially equal to the cross-sectionof collar 16. The collar is bonded or otherwise integrated with theportion of the bag surrounding and defining the smaller opening 12, andit extends transversely (upwardly in FIG. 1) from such portion so thatit is surrounded by the outer portion of the larger opening 14. Thisspace between the two openings forms a flow channel for gas to flow intothe bag when the diver dons the vest so that the collar 16 forms a sealto his neck and the portion of the bag defining the opening 14 issecured and sealed to his helmet, as shown in FIG. 4.

While the bag 10 may be formed in various ways, including seamlessconstructions and the single cavity bag 10 of FIG. 2A, the preferredform is as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, utilizing an inner panel 18 andan outer panel 20 tightly joined at their peripheries 22 to form agas-tight seal. The joint is preferably a combination of bonding theperipheral edges 22 to each other and to the outer reinforcing strip 25and inner reinforcing strip 27. Each panel is substantially rectangular,and has a width substantially equal to the width of the average manstorso and about twice its length. Openings 12 and 14 are formedrespectively in inner panel 18 and outer panel 20 at about theirgeometric centers, so that when the diver puts the vest on by pullingthe bag panels down over his head about one-half the length of thejoined panels fall down over his chest and abdomen while the other halffalls over his back, each half terminating at about his waist, asillustrated in FIG. 4.

The two panels are preferably joined along the center of their length,as indicated by the reinforcing webbing 23, to supply additionalstructural strength. This divides the air space in the bag into twohalves 24 and 26, each connected to the annular portion of opening 14surrounding the collar 16 (and of course each half space 24 and 26 or 28is so connected, whether in the part on the front of the the divers bodyor lying along his back). In the FIG. 2A embodiment, there is only thesingle space 28.

Secured to each of the shorter ends of bag or vest 10 are straps 32, oneof which mounts an eye 34 and the other a spring-locked hook 36. Thesestraps are adapted to pass under the divers crotch so that the hook 36and eye 34 can be secured together to hold the vest in place, togetherwith the helmet H. Similar straps 42, eyes 44, and hooks 46 are securedto the longer joined edges of the bag, adjacent their ends, to passgirth-wise around the divers waist to further secure the vest inposition. While it is not essential that any of these straps beintegrated with the vest, the unitary construction does have theadvantage of eliminating a longer pair of straps that would otherwisehave to run from the front of the helmet, under the divers crotch andthen be fastened to the back of his helmet. Some such strap is an almostimperative safety measure to avoid accidentally floating the helmet offthe divers head.

When the reinforcing webbing 23 is used, it may be extended below thebottom edge of the bag, as shown at 33, and may be joined to straps 32to further strengthen the crotch or jock strap.

The vests of FIGS. 1-4 have reinforcing 50 secured to the portion of bagsurrounding the larger opening 14 of a type adapted for connection to abreastplate P, as shown in FIG. 4. Such breastplate P, which in itselfis not a part of the present invention, is contoured to fit over theupper part of the chest, pass over the shoulders and part way down theback, and the thickened web or reinforcing 50 is similarly contoured. Itis provided with a series of spaced bolt holes 52 which register with alike series of stud bolts 54 secured to breastplate P. The two membersare joined with a contoured locking ring R and by wing nuts 56, withsufficient pressure to insure a tight seal.

Helmet H, which also is not a part of the present invention, has theusual breathing mixture connection C and various windows W. Not shownare valves mounted on the outside of the helmet, one to control the flowof gas into the helmet and the other to control the rate of exhaustinggas frm the helmet, plus an internal exhaust valve controlled by thedivers pushing his jaw against a thrust button. The diver will decreasethe exhaust rate when he wishes to inflate his vest, but since the valveand its operation are uncomplicated and form no part of the presentinvention they are not further illustrated or discussed.

The vest 10*" of FIGS. 5 and 6 differs from that illustrated in FIGS.l-4 principally in the termination of the bag adjacent the outer opening14, and this difference in turn is caused by the use of a different typehelmet. Whereas the helmet H of FIGS. 1-4 is designed to be supported bybreastplate P so that no weight rests on the divers head, the helmet Hof FIG. 5 is designed for use without a breastplate and with the helmetH resting on the divers head. A suitable suspension means (not shown)inside the helmet cushions the weight sothat shock loads are softenedand largely absorbed by the suspension means.

Helmet H is closed except at the bottom (like other helmets), and thebottom closure takes the form of a neck ring N fitted to an insidecorner formed in an outturned flange F forming the lower part of helmetsidewall S. An O-ring seal 0 is included in the assembly, and both itand the neck ring N are detachably and sealingly secured to the helmet Hwith the aid of a pair of circumferentially spaced latches L, each ofwhich is a member extending part of the distance around flange F and ispivoted to F at one end for movement out of engagement with the neckring N. This latch L is channel shaped in cross-section and has parallelarms above and below the L-shaped flange F to hold the neck ring inplace.

Such helmet assembly is secured to the vest 10 of the invention byrunning the upper end of outer panel above neck ring N and into theillustrated O-ring groove of the neck ring so that it underlies theO-ring. Since the preferred material for the bags and panels of theinvention is in itself pliable and suitable for sealing (but preferablyis not stretchable), the introduction of panel 20 into the neck ringconnection forms a superior seal to prevent leakage between any of thevest, the neck ring and the helmet. Of course, similar means may be usedfor clamping these members together, e.g., neck ring N could be madewithout the O-ring groove and the edge of the vest could be used as theonly sealing member.

In other respects the bag or vest 10" is similar to those previouslydiscussed. A collar 16 of elastic material is bonded to the opening 12of the bag formed in inner panel 18 to form a gas-tight sealtherebetween, and such collar is of a size to form a similarly tightseal around the divers neck, as in all forms of the present invention.Also as in other forms, the outer peripheries of the panels are joinedtogether to effect a mechanically strong, gastight connection, or thebag may be of seamless construction. The collar 16 should be foldedinwardly under the divers chin, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, to form afully effective seal to his neck.

FIG. 7 is another illustration of the fact that the vests of theinvention are adaptable to fit any type diving helmet. In this instancethe helmet H is another of the types designed to be supported on thedivers head. Its sidewallS terminates in a slightly thickened bottomportion T having internal threads as shown adapted for threadedconnection to a neck ring N. Neck ring N has a series ofcircumferentially spaced blind openings extending up from its lowersurface, as shown, and such openings are tapped to receive a like numberof machine screws M extending up through a set of registering openingsin a locking ring R.

This FIG. 7 helmet H sealingly secured to the vest 10" of the inventionby interposing the upper terminal portion of the bag 10 surrounding theouter opening 14", as defined by the upper end of panel 20", betweenneck ring N and locking ring R. The bag material is squeezed between Nand R as machine screws M are tightened, and thus completes a gas-tightseal between these members.

In other respect the vest 10" is like those previously described,including the collar 16 and the gas-tight connection between theperipheral portions of the pair of walls 18 and 20".

The curious reader may be interested to know that the helmets H and H ofFIGS. 5-6 and 7 were originally designed for use with wet suits (or nospecial clothing), and not with the buoyancy vests of the presentinvention. When so used, in the prior art, each helmet comes equippedwith an elastic rubber collar similar to those illustrated herein. Suchcollar fits around the divers neck with a free end curling under hischin, as herein, but the other end is secured in the locking assembly ofFIG. 6 or 7 in lieu of the upper end of panel 20' or 20". Of course,with such an arrangement the diver obtains none of the advantages of thepresent invention, as the collar so used simply keeps water out of hishelmet and confines his breathing gas to the helmet. (Leakage of gasalong his neck under the collar may not be significant, and it is of novalue in maintaining or controlling his buoyancy.)

As previously mentioned, the diver wearing one of the vest of theinvention may leave it completely deflated by setting the exhaust valveof his helmet in a wide open position, and indeed this is the preferredcondition when working on bottom. When he wishes to inflate the vest torise somewhat olf bottom, he resets his exhaust valve to a slower flowrate, and this action causes some of the breathing gas to flow into thevest to partially inflate the bag. When the buoyant force slightlyexceeds the gravitational force on the diver and his equipment, he willrise through the water to a depth at which these forces are equal, andwill remain suspended there until he makes a further adjustment of hisexhaust valve. By repeated such adjustments, he may rise to the surfacein steps, may re-descend to bottom, or rise all the way to the surfaceand remain as desired in a floating position.

The diver wearing such a vest has the full and unfettered use of bothhis legs and both his arms. His entire body is washed by the water he isworking in, and thus he does not become overheated nor madeuncomfortable by accumulated perspiration. He cannot become dangerouslyinverted, as the inflated vest keeps him in a headsup attitude. He isnot trapped in his gear and feels no anxiety comparable to a diver in afull diving suit, as he knowns that he can quickly strip off the vestmerely by disconnecting any crotch straps and girth straps he is using,and slipping his helmet and vest from his head.

It should also be noted that any one of the vests of the invention, wheninflated, provides a bonus advantage in that it contains emergencybreathing gas. If the diver should lose his fresh air connection and beobliged to rise to the surface, the one or two minutes reserve of gas inthe vest will frequently insure him suflicient breathing to make hisascent without stripping oif his gear (depending on depth). If his depthis too great for the complete ascent, he can always utilize the vestreserve gas for a part of his ascent, and this part may be instrumentalin saving his life or preventing the injuries attendant on too rapid anascent.

It may also be mentioned that the invention has been reduced to practicein experimental dives made in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent waters,dives as deep as 225 feet. These tests amply demonstrated that thestated objects are achieved, including control of the divers position atany position between bottom and surface by controlling the extent ofinflation of the vest by adjustment of the helmet exhaust valve.

While not specifically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it isalso within the scope of the invention to provide a buoyancy vestdiffering from those described above only in that the vest halves shownin FIGS. 4 and 5 as draping separately over the divers chest-abdomen andback are made in a unitary construction, and some of the claims beloware intended to embrace such an embodiment. The vest as thus modifiedhas a shape similar to that of a turtle-neck sweater or shirt, eitherwith or without sleeves. Some small amount of stretch may be required ofthe fabric to pass over the divers shoulders, but in other respects itwould be like the vests illustrated, including the double wall, the neckseal or collar, and the sealing of the outer wall to the divers helmet.

This form of the invention would not be easily pulled from the diver bythe buoyant force of his working medium and hence 'would not requirestraps, although they may be provided if desired. Some sacrifice in bodycooling would be entailed, however, in comparison with other forms ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A buoyancy vest comprising a pair of inner and outer panels of waterimpervious material and of substantially the same overall dimensions,said panels being longer than wide and being sealingly secured to oneanother along their edges to define a gas space, a pair of substantiallycoaxial central openings through said panels intermediate the joinededges thereof, and an elastic col lar in the shape of a sleeve sealinglysecured to the portion of said inner panel surrounding the openingtherethrough to form a means for a diver to thrust his head through thevest until the collar surrounds his neck and forms a seal therewith, theportion of the outer panel surrounding the opening therethrough beingterminated with means for clamping or other sealing connection to alower peripheral portion of a divers helmet or breast- .plate at alocation spaced from said neck collar, whereby the breathing gasessupplied to the helmet are in flow communication with the gas spacebetween said pair of panels of the buoyancy vest.

2. The buoyancy vest of claim 1 wherein the pair of panels of thebuoyancy vest are also secured together along their length,substantially midway between their longer edges.

3. The buoyancy vest of claim 1 which includes fastening means securedin part to one shorter edge of the joined panels and in part to theother shorter edge, said parts of the fastening means being readilysecurable to and detachable from one another and being adapted to extendbetween the divers legs adapted to serve as a crotch strap, whereby thevest and helmet to which it is secured are prevented from being floatedofi the diver when the fastening means is secured but are readilyremovable in emergencies by detaching said fastening means.

4. The buoyancy vest of claim 3 in. Which the pair of joined panels ofthe vest are also joined together along their length by a strip ofreinforcing material located about midway between the longer edges ofthe panels, said strip also extending beyond one or both the shorteredges of the panels and joining said crotch strap.

5. A buoyancy vest comprising a thin and elongated bag of gasimpervious, said bag having a wall forming a complete enclosure exceptfor a pair of registering inner and outer head openings through saidwall, and an elastic collar providing a seal around a divers necksealingly secured to the portion of said wall adjacent said inneropening and extending coaxially with such opening, the portion of thewall surrounding the outer opening being spaced from said collar todefine a flow channel into said enclosure, said outer opening portionbeing terminated with clamping means or other sealing connection to adivers helmet.

6. The buoyancy vest of claim 5 in which the portion of the wallsurrounding the outer opening therein is terminated for sealingconnection to a divers helmet of the type having a lower end terminatingin a neck ring having a locking ring secured thereto by acir-cumferentially spaced series of connecting members, comprising asimilar set of openings in said portion of the bag wall registering withsaid connecting members, whereby said portion of the wall may besqueezed between said neck ring and locking ring with said connectingmembers passing through the registering openings in the bag wall.

7. The buoyancy vest of claim 5 in which the portion of the wallsurrounding the outer opening therein is terminated for sealingconnection to a divers helmet of the type supported on a breastplatecontoured to conform to the divers shoulders, chest and upper back, suchbreastplate having a central opening therein surrounding and spaced fromthe divers neck and a series of spaced connecting members extending fromthe portion of the plate surrounding such opening, comprising asimilarly formed and disposed series of registering openings formed inthe portion of said bag wall.

8. The buoyancy vest of claim 5 in which the portion of the wallsurrounding the outer opening therein is terminated for sealingconnection to a divers helmet of the type having a lower end adapted toreceive a neck ring and seal ring and squeeze the same to effect a seal,comprising providing suflicient length in the portion of the bag wallsurrounding the outer opening therein to extend into said connectionbetween the lower end of the helmet and the neck ring to serve in itselfas a sealing member, said portion of the bag disposed in said connectionbeing squeezed in assembly to effect a gas-tight seal between helmet andvest.

9. The buoyancy vest of claim 5 in which the portion of the wallsurrounding the outer opening therein is terminated for sealingconnection to a divers helmet of the type having a lower end adaptedtoreceive and support a neck ring, comprising providing suflicient lengthin the portion of the bag wall surrounding the outer opening therein toextend into said connection between the lower end of the helmet and theneck ring to serve as a sealing member, said portion of the bag disposedin said connection being squeezed in assembly to effect a gas-tight sealbetween helmet and vest.

10. A buoyancy vest comprising a double-walled bag of Water-impervioussealable fabric of length and width to fit a divers torso and terminateat about his waist, said walls being spaced apart to define a gascompartment which is relatively thin compared with its length and Width,the wall closer to the diver having a head opening therethrough and thematerial surrounding such opening having bonded thereto a sleeve-likeelastic collar passing over the divers head and fitting snugly aroundhis neck to form a seal therewith, and the outer wall also having a headopening therethrough substantially coaxial with the inner wall opening,the portion of the wall surrounding such outer opening being terminatedwith means for clamping or sealing connection to a divers helmet,whereby when such vest is donned by a diver and connected to his helmeta flow space from the helmet to the gas compartment of the vest isformed between said collar and said outer connection, a portion of thebreathing gas supplied to the divers helmet being diverted through suchflow space to inflate the vest to a pressure determined by the settingsof the air flow valves connected to the helmet.

' 11. The buoyancy vest of claim 10 in which said bag is strengthened bya reinforcing web securing said two walls together along their lengthsubstantially halfway of the width of the bag.

12. The buoyancy vest of claim 11 which includes a pair of strapssecured to the ends of the bag terminating at about the divers waist,each of said straps having a free end with a connecting member securedthereto, said connecting members being complementary and readily engagedand disengaged to provide a quick means for securing the ends of thevest to one another.

13. The buoyancy vest of claim 12 in which said straps are adapted topass under the divers crotch to secure both vest and helmet againstaccidental removal by the buoyant force of the water in which the diveris working.

14. The buoyancy vest of claim 12 which includes at least one such pairof straps passing girthwise around the diver to secure the ends of saidbag to each other.

15. The buoyancy vest of claim 13 in which said reinforcing web alsoextends beyond one or both shorter edges of the vest and each suchextension is secured to one of said crotch straps to further strengthenthe same.

' therein, said neck collar being formed of an elastic sealing materialand in a size to pass over a divers head and form a gas-tight seal withhis neck, and the portion of the bag surrounding the opening in theouter wall having a termination means securable in sealing connection toa divers helmet at a location spaced from said neck collar to provide aflow channel connecting the helmet and the gas enclosure of the bag forthe inflation of said bag by the breathing gas supplied to the helmet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,209,200 12/ 1916 Perotti 9-3381,226,148 5/1917 Walters l28142.5 1,915,818 6/1933 Di Cara 93132,316,101 4/1943 Norred 9313 2,906,262 9/1959 Braunstein 128-142.23,042,947 7/1962 Bashore 9338 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner J. T.PITTENGER, Assistant Examiner

